| 1. |
- Alasdair, Skelton, et al.
(författare)
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Spatial coupling between spilitization and carbonation ofbasaltic sills in SW Scottish Highlands: evidence of amineralogical control of metamorphic fluid flow
- 2011
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Ingår i: Geofluids. - : Wiley. - 1468-8115 .- 1468-8123. ; 11:3, s. 245-259
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In a geochemical and petrological analysis of overprinting episodes of fluid–rock interaction in a well-studied metabasaltic sill in the SW Scottish Highlands, we show that syn-deformational access of metamorphic fluids and consequent fluid–rock interaction is at least in part controlled by preexisting mineralogical variations. Lithological and structural channelling of metamorphic fluids along the axis of the Ardrishaig Anticline, SW Scottish Highlands, caused carbonation of metabasaltic sills hosted by metasedimentary rocks of the Argyll Group in the Dalradian Supergroup. Analysis of chemical and mineralogical variability across a metabasaltic sill at Port Cill Maluaig shows that carbonation at greenschist to epidote–amphibolites facies conditions caused by infiltration of H2O-CO2 fluids was controlled by mineralogical variations, which were present before carbonation occurred. This variability probably reflects chemical and mineralogical changes imparted on the sill during premetamorphic spilitization. Calculation of precarbonation mineral modes reveals heterogeneous spatial distributions of epidote, amphibole, chlorite and epidote. This reflects both premetamorphic spilitization and prograde greenschist facies metamorphism prior to fluid flow. Spilitization caused albitization of primary plagioclase and spatially heterogeneous growth of epidote ± calcic amphibole ± chlorite ± quartz ± calcite. Greenschist facies metamorphism caused breakdown of primary pyroxene and continued, but spatially more homogeneous, growth of amphibole + chlorite ± quartz. These processes formed diffuse epidote-rich patches or semi-continuous layers. These might represent precursors of epidote segregations, which are better developed elsewhere in the SW Scottish Highlands. Chemical and field analyses of epidote reveal the evidence of local volume fluctuations associated with these concentrations of epidote. Transient permeability enhancement associated with these changes may have permitted higher fluid fluxes and therefore more extensive carbonation. This deflected metamorphic fluid such that its flow direction became more layer parallel, limiting propagation of the reaction front into the sill interior.
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| 2. |
- Ali, Rabea A. M., et al.
(författare)
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Petrology and geochemistry of ophiolitic ultramafic rocks and chromitites across the Eastern Desert of Egypt : Insights into the composition and nature of a Neoproterozoic mantle and implication for the evolution of SSZ system
- 2020
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Ingår i: Precambrian Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0301-9268 .- 1872-7433. ; 337
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Large outcrops of ultramafic rocks are common in the Central Eastern Desert (CED) of Egypt and represent residual mantle sections and cumulates of dismembered Neoproterozoic oceanic lithosphere. This study integrates field observations, petrography, geochemistry and mineral chemistry to investigate ultramafic rocks of the dismembered ophiolitic rocks at four areas distributed from east to west across the CED, with the aim of gaining a better understanding the tectonic settings and mantle conditions under which the ultramafic rocks formed. The ultramafic masses studied are composed of serpentinized peridotites, serpentinites and pyroxenites, and occasionally host podiform chromitites. Preserved textures, relict primary minerals and whole-rock compositions indicate that the protoliths of these ultramafic rocks were dominated by harzburgites. The Al2O3- and CaO-depleted nature of residual harzburgites, the high Fo and NiO contents of primary olivines and the high Cr# and low TiO2 contents of fresh Cr-spinels suggest that these ultramafic rocks are remnants of depleted to highly depleted forearc mantle of suprasubduction zone (SSZ) system. Temperatures from olivine-spinet geothermometry (668-778 degrees C) and Al-in-orthopyroxene geothermometry (984 degrees C) estimated for residual harzburgites are comparable to those reported for modern forearc mantle peridotites. The range of oxygen fugacity [Delta logfO(2) (FMQ)] values (-3.01 to +0.32) calculated for the residual harzburgites reveals heterogeneity in the Neoproterozoic mantle oxidation state and suggests that SSZ mantle was not consistently more oxidized than MOR mantle. The podiform chromitites of different ultramafic masses were formed following the interaction of residual mantle peridotites with forearc basaltic and boninitic melts, implying the evolution of Neoproterozoic SSZ system from subduction initiation to more mature island arc stage. Integration of the analyses carried out in this study shows a Neoproterozoic SSZ system where slab-derived melts evolve in composition and oxidation state from early reduced forearc basalt in the east to more oxidised boninitic melts in the west.
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| 3. |
- Boskabadi, Arman, et al.
(författare)
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Carbonate alteration of ophiolitic rocks in the Arabian-Nubian Shield of Egypt : sources and compositions of the carbonating fluid and implications for the formation of Au deposits
- 2017
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Ingår i: International Geology Review. - : TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC. - 0020-6814 .- 1938-2839. ; 59:4, s. 391-419
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ultramafic portions of ophiolitic fragments in the Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS) show pervasive carbonate alteration forming various degrees of carbonated serpentinites and listvenitic rocks. Notwithstanding the extent of the alteration, little is known about the processes that caused it, the source of the CO2 or the conditions of alteration. This study investigates the mineralogy, stable (O, C) and radiogenic (Sr) isotope composition, and geochemistry of suites of variably carbonate altered ultramafics from the Meatiq area of the Central Eastern Desert (CED) of Egypt. The samples investigated include least-altered lizardite (Lz) serpentinites, antigorite (Atg) serpentinites and listvenitic rocks with associated carbonate and quartz veins. The C, O and Sr isotopes of the vein samples cluster between -8.1 parts per thousand and -6.8 parts per thousand for delta C-13, +6.4 parts per thousand and +10.5 parts per thousand for delta O-18, and Sr-87/Sr-86 of 0.7028-0.70344, and plot within the depleted mantle compositional field. The serpentinites isotopic compositions plot on a mixing trend between the depleted-mantle and sedimentary carbonate fields. The carbonate veins contain abundant carbonic (CO2 +/- CH4 +/- N-2) and aqueous-carbonic (H2O-NaCl-CO2 +/- CH4 +/- N-2) low salinity fluid, with trapping conditions of 270-300 degrees C and 0.7-1.1kbar. The serpentinites are enriched in Au, As, S and other fluid-mobile elements relative to primitive and depleted mantle. The extensively carbonated Atg-serpentinites contain significantly lower concentrations of these elements than the Lz-serpentinites suggesting that they were depleted during carbonate alteration. Fluid inclusion and stable isotope compositions of Au deposits in the CED are similar to those from the carbonate veins investigated in the study and we suggest that carbonation of ANS ophiolitic rocks due to influx of mantle-derived CO2-bearing fluids caused break down of Au-bearing minerals such as pentlandite, releasing Au and S to the hydrothermal fluids that later formed the Au-deposits. This is the first time that gold has been observed to be remobilized from rocks during the lizardite-antigorite transition.
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| 4. |
- Boskabadi, Arman, et al.
(författare)
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Carbonation of ophiolitic ultramafic rocks : Listvenite formation in the Late Cretaceous ophiolites of eastern Iran
- 2020
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Ingår i: Lithos. - : Elsevier BV. - 0024-4937 .- 1872-6143. ; 352–353
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Late Cretaceous mantle peridotite of the Birjand ophiolite (eastern Iran) contains variably serpentinized and carbonated/listvenitized rocks. Transformation from harzburgite protolith to final listvenite (quartz + magnesite/+/- dolomite + relict Cr-spinel) reflects successive fluid-driven reactions, the products of which are preserved in outcrop. Transformation of harzburgite to listvenite starts with lizardite serpentinization, followed by contemporaneous carbonation and antigorite serpentinization, antigorite-talc-magnesite alteration, finally producing listvenite where alteration is most pervasive. The spectrum of listvenitic assemblages includes silica-carbonate, carbonate and silica listvenites with the latter (also known as birbirite) being the youngest, based on crosscutting relationships. The petrological observations and mineral assemblages suggest hydrothermal fluids responsible for the lizardite serpentinization had low aCO(2), oxygen and sulfur fugacities, distinct from those causing antigorite serpentinization and carbonation/listvenitization, which had higher aCO(2), aSiO(2), and oxygen and sulfur fugacities. The carbonate and silica listvenite end-members indicate variations in aSiO(2) and aCO(2) of the percolating hydrothermal fluids, most likely driven by local variations in pH and temperature. Beyond the addition of H2O, serpentinization did not significantly redistribute major elements. Progressive infiltration of CO2-rich fluids and consequent carbonation segregated Mg into carbonate and Si into silica listvenites. Trace element mobility resulted in different enrichments of fluid-mobile, high field strength, and light rare earth elements in listvenites, indicating a listvenite mobility sequence. The delta C-13, delta O-18 and Sr-87/Sr-88 values of magnesite and dolomite in carbonated lithologies and veins point to sedimentary carbonate as the main C source. Fluid-mobile element (e.g., As and Sb) patterns in carbonated lithologies are consistent with contribution of subducted sediments in a forearc setting, suggesting sediment-derived fluids. Such fluids were produced by expulsion of pore fluids and release of structurally bound fluid from carbonate-bearing sediments in the Sistan Suture Zone (SsSZ) accretionary complex at shallow parts of mantle wedge. The CO2 -bearing fluids migrated up along the slab-mantle interface and circulated through the suture zone faults to be sequestered in mantle peridotites with marked element mobility signatures.
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| 5. |
- Cardenes, Victor, et al.
(författare)
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A Morphological and Size-Based Study of the Changes of Iron Sulfides in the Caples and Torlesse Terranes (Otago Schist, New Zealand) during Prograde Metamorphic Evolution
- 2020
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Ingår i: Minerals. - : MDPI AG. - 2075-163X. ; 10:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- It is widely accepted that metamorphism induces a remobilization of iron sulfides, sweeping away original ones while creating new ones. This paper analyzes size distributions of iron sulfides in several samples from the Caples and Torlesse terranes from the Otago Schist (New Zealand) using high-resolution X-ray computed tomography, which allows all iron sulfides larger than the resolution at which X-ray scans were performed to be characterized. Framboids and clusters of framboids are common in unmetamorphosed samples, but disappear in greenschist/amphibolite facies samples, where iron sulfides have anhedral habits. By contrast, the size and standard deviation of the new iron sulfides both remain within the same range. The results illuminate the evolution of iron sulfides throughout metamorphism, proposing boundaries for the metamorphic processes based on the shape of these iron sulfides.
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| 6. |
- Cave, Ben J., et al.
(författare)
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A metamorphic mineral source for tungsten in the turbidite-hosted orogenic gold deposits of the Otago Schist, New Zealand
- 2017
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Ingår i: Mineralium Deposita. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0026-4598 .- 1432-1866. ; 52:4, s. 515-537
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The orogenic gold deposits of the Otago Schist, New Zealand, are enriched in a variety of trace elements including Au, As, Ag, Hg, W and Sb. We combine laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) traverses and images to show that detrital rutile is the most important host mineral for W in the subgreenschist facies rocks. Furthermore, the prograde metamorphic recrystallisation of detrital rutile to titanite releases significant amounts of W (potentially 0.41 g/tonne of rock). Scheelite development closely follows the progression of this W-liberating reaction. Scheelite micrograins form early within the fabric of the rock evolving to locally and regionally sourced scheelite-bearing veins. Scheelite from syn-metamorphic veins at Fiddlers Flat and Lake HAwea shows distinct differences in composition compared with scheelite from late-metamorphic veins at the Macraes Mine, the latter of which is enriched in REEs, Y and Sr. We suggest that the scheelite at Macraes became enriched due to the liberation of these elements during alteration of the Ca-silicate minerals epidote and titanite by the ore-forming fluid. These results are supportive of recent models for orogenic gold mineralisation in the Otago Schist, whereby prograde metamorphic recrystallisation of diagenetic or detrital metal-rich mineral phases (pyrite to pyrrhotite: Au, As, Ag, Hg and Sb; rutile to titanite: W) releases significant amounts of metals into the concurrently developing metamorphic fluids that can be subsequently focussed into regional structures and form significant tungsten-bearing orogenic gold deposits.
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| 7. |
- Cave, Ben J., et al.
(författare)
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Multi-stage precipitation and redistribution of gold, and its collection by lead-bismuth and lead immiscible liquids in a reduced-intrusion related gold system (RIRGS); Dublin Gulch, western Canada
- 2019
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Ingår i: Ore Geology Reviews. - : Elsevier BV. - 0169-1368 .- 1872-7360. ; 106, s. 28-55
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Dublin Gulch reduced intrusion-related gold system (RIRGS), located in the Selwyn Basin area of western Canada, represents one of the best examples of RIRGS mineralization globally and hence can be studied to unravel genesis and evolution of these types of deposits. Based on textural relationships, mineralogy, and trace element mineral chemistry, three auriferous vein stages were identified. The paragenetic sequence for the auriferous vein stages are: 1) Eagle Style (ES), quartz-albite, low sulfide and sulfosalt content ( < 5% vol.), As-Fe-Mo-W-Pb-Bi-Au-Ag veins; 2) Potato Hills Style-1 (PHS-1), quartz, high sulfide and sulfosalt content ( > 30% vol.), As-Fe-W-Pb-Bi-Au-Ag veins; and, 3) Potato Hills Style-2 (PHS-2), high sulfide and sulfosalt content ( > 30% vol.), Fe-Pb-Sb-Zn-Cu-Au-Ag veins. In the ES and PHS-1 veins, Au is present both as native gold (Au, Ag) and as invisible gold in arsenopyrite, whilst in the PHS-2 veins, Au is present as invisible gold in pyrite. Native gold micrograins (individual grains, 1-100's mu m in size) are observed associated with Pb minerals (in anhedral-toglobular cosalite (Pb2Bi2S5) in ES veins, or galena (PbS) in the PHS-1 veins]. Native gold is also observed as micrograins along arsenopyrite margins and in quartz fractures. We suggest a variation on the hydrothermal Bi melt collector model to explain the Au-Pb +/- Bi association. The Au, Ag, Pb, and Bi are interpreted to have been locally remobilized from arsenopyrite, which shows textures and trace element distribution patterns consistent with fluid-and-deformation assisted recrystallization. We suggest Pb and Bi were mobilized either as immiscible nanodroplets that coalesced to form larger Pb +/- Bi liquid accumulations or into the hydrothermal fluid and subsequently exsolved to form immiscible Pb +/- Bi liquids. We propose that remobilized Au and Ag were collected by these Pb +/-Bi immiscible liquids. Subsequent retrograde alteration (sulfidation) is interpreted to have converted the Au-Ag-Pb +/- Bi alloys to native gold and cosalite (ES), and native gold and galena mineral assemblages (PHS-1). The similarity of the Au/Ag ratios in native gold and arsenopyrite supports a local source for the native gold micrograins. Temperatures required to attain liquid Pb-0.Bi-5(0).(5) ( > 145.2 degrees C) and Pb (> 327.5 degrees C), are consistent with arsenopyrite geothermometry (ES 345-405 degrees C; PHS-1 approximate to 380 degrees C). These suggested new variations (Pb-Bi and Pb) on the hydrothermal melt (Bi) collector model are important, given the common association of native gold with Pb +/- Bi sulfosalts in many gold deposits, and the relatively low temperatures required to maintain these liquids and collect Au from the hydrothermal fluid.
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| 8. |
- Craw, Dave, et al.
(författare)
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Contrasting geochemistry of orogenic gold deposits in Yukon, Canada and Otago, New Zealand
- 2015
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Ingår i: Geochemistry. - : Geological Society of London. - 1467-7873 .- 2041-4943. ; 15:2-3, s. 150-166
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Yukon-Tanana Terrane (YTT) of western Yukon Territory in NW Canada and Otago Schist belt (OSB) of South Island, New Zealand share similar geological evolutionary histories as convergent orogenic belts. Both belts host orogenic gold deposits of mainly Jurassic to Early Cretaceous age. Jurassic mineralization in the YTT occurred during convergent orogenesis and stacking of previously-metamorphosed (Palaeozoic) greenschist-amphibolite facies metasediments, metavolcanic rocks, and metagranitoids. Early Cretaceous OSB mineralization occurred in the latter stages of terrane accretion of un-metamorphosed turbidites with minor basaltic rocks. Metamorphism of the OSB turbidites mobilised background levels of Au (0.6-1.3 ppb), As (2-20 ppm), Sb (0.1-1 ppm), and W (< 10 ppm), primarily under greenschist to lower amphibolite facies conditions when diagenetic pyrite (Au c.0.5-2 ppm; As c.500-10000 ppm) transformed to pyrrhotite on a regional scale. In contrast, the previously-metamorphosed YTT rocks had generally low background As contents (1-2 ppm) apart from some As-rich quartzites (up to 100 ppm As). Consequently, there was less As available for orogenic mobilisation, and YTT Au deposits generally have lower concentrations of this pathfinder element compared to the OSB. YTT host rocks, especially metagranitoids, have anomalous levels of Mo (10-300 ppm), and many orogenic deposits contain elevated Mo, locally including molybdenite. OSB turbidites have elevated Mo (2-200 ppm), along with elevated Au and As, in diagenetic pyrite, but this Mo became largely dispersed through the metamorphic pile as metamorphic grade increased and pyrite transformed to pyrrhotite. OSB orogenic deposits have only marginally elevated Mo (c.1 ppm), no molybdenite, and accessory scheelite in these deposits is distinctly Mo-poor. Only minor mobilisation of base metals occurred in these orogenic belts, and orogenic Au deposits contain sparse base metal sulphides. Orogenic deposits in the YTT and OSB differ in that Au (and other associated elements) in many of the orogenic deposits in the YTT was remobilised from relatively local sources (e.g. pre-existing Cu-Mo-Au porphyry or volcanogenic sulphide mineralization) whereas Au in the OSB was mobilised from larger volumes of homogeneous rock at depth.
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| 9. |
- Craw, Dave, et al.
(författare)
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Geochemical signatures of mesothermal Au-mineralized late-metamorphic deformation zones, Otago Schist, New Zealand
- 2007
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Ingår i: Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis. ; 7, s. 225–232-
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Forskningsöversikt (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- Hydrothermal processes along two regional-scale shear zones in theOtago Schist were dominated by structurally controlled fluid flow and mineralization in the host schist, with relatively minor quartz vein formation, and mineralized rocks are only subtly different from unmineralized rocks. Most Au in the shear zones is associated with sulphide minerals (pyrite and arsenopyrite) disseminated through the host schist or along microshears. Minor enrichment of Sb, Mo and Bi (ppm level) is detectable in the Hyde-Macraes Shear Zone (HMSZ). Hydrothermal muscovite is slightly more aluminous (1–2 wt%) than metamorphic muscovite in both shear zones. HMSZ muscovite averages >900 ppm N, in contrast to metamorphic muscovite that averages c. 200 ppm N. In both shear zones, rutile has replaced metamorphic titanite and epidote has altered to carbonate and phyllosilicates, but these reactions were nearly isochemical. Structurally controlled hydrothermal graphite in the HMSZ occurs in microshears (up to 3 wt%, above background <0.2 wt%). Alteration in the Rise & Shine Shear Zone (RSSZ) was accompanied by addition of abundant ankerite. The two shear zones have subtly different geochemical signatures and are not directly genetically related. However, As enrichment is a key exploration target for both shear zones.
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| 10. |
- Dunst, Robert, et al.
(författare)
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A lithological context for stratabound REE mineralisation at the birthplace of REE – Bastnäs, Riddarhyttan, Sweden
- 2023
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the 17th SGA Biennial Meeting, 28 August – 1 September 2023, Zurich, Switzerland. - : The Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits (SGA). ; , s. 29-32
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Bastnäs ore field, in central Sweden, is the cradle of the rare earth elements (REE). It is the place of the discovery of several REE and important REE-minerals (e.g., Bastnäsite one of the primary REE-ore minerals). In recent years there has been an increased interest due to rising demand of REE for technological applications. Several recent studies have focused on the mineralogy and geochemistry but a lack of fresh in situ samples has meant that textural and stratigraphic relationships are not as well described. Recent exploration in the area has produced drill core traverses across the host stratigraphy of the Bastnäs deposit, allowing the collection of relatively fresh in situ samples which can be placed in lithological context. Here we present new mineralogical and textural information linked to the lithology indicating that the REE-mineralisation in Bastnäs is commonly associated with magnetite skarn and that it occurs over a wide range of stratigraphic levels
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